Comparison

VBMAPP vs FirstWork

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

VBMAPP

This app is a digital tool for assessing, guiding curriculum, and tracking skills for children with autism or language delays. It simplifies the assessment process with accessible information and automatic scoring, offering video tutorials for guidance.

Highlights
  • Criterion-referenced assessment tool
  • Curriculum guide
  • Skill tracking system
  • Unlimited assessments per student
  • Automatic scoring and plotting
  • Built-in video tutorials
  • Integrated guide with IEP goals
Read full description

VB-MAPP for iOS! Created on behalf of Dr. Mark L. Sundberg, Ph.D., BCBA-D. The VB-MAPP is a criterion-referenced assessment tool, curriculum guide, and skill tracking system that is designed for children with autism, and other individuals who demonstrate language delays. The VB-MAPP is based on established developmental milestones, and research from the field of behavior analysis. The VB-MAPP App facilitates an unlimited number of assessments for each purchased student. Additional students can be unlocked via an in-app purchase. Additional students also enjoy an unlimited number of assessments. The objectives, materials, examples and scoring criterion are readily accessible as part of each question, making the process of conducting the VB-MAPP assessment much, much easier. The results are plotted on the scoring forms automatically saving you a significant amount of time. Built in video tutorials show how to add students, start assessments, explore the scoring forms and how to export the results to parents or colleagues. The entire contents of "the guide" is also built right into the app providing all the suggested IEP goals, guidance on materials that facilitate conducting the assessments and a vast library of information that can greatly enhance any verbal behavior, applied behavior analysis program.

About

FirstWork

This platform offers digital Discrete Trial Instruction (DTI/DTT) with thousands of ABA and SPED learning goals. It provides innovative rewards and deep customization for personalized learning programs, trusted by professionals.

Highlights
  • Thousands of ABA and SPED learning goals
  • Matching, Receptive Identification, FFC
  • Expressive Language and Phonics activities
  • Customizable spelling and counting exercises
  • Progress monitoring and export features
  • Focus Mode to limit distractions
  • Digital reward system with app access
Read full description

FirstWork is the most popular digital Discrete Trial Instruction(DTI/DTT) platform featuring the most common ABA and SPED learning goals, thousands of targets, innovative rewards, and deep customization options. FirstWork is trusted by thousands of ABA and SPED professionals for their personalized learning programs. Our Learning Categories - featuring thousands of targets for: Matching: Boost cognitive skills by pairing related items. Receptive Identification: Enhance understanding through auditory and visual prompts. Feature, Function, and Class (FFC): Develop categorization and critical thinking skills by identifying objects based on their attributes, roles, and classifications. Expressive Language: Practice vocal responses with instructor-scored expressive language lessons. Letter Sound Matching: Strengthen phonics with interactive letter-sound activities. Spelling: Improve spelling with dynamic and customizable exercises. Counting: Build foundational math skills through counting tasks. Arithmetic: Advance numeracy with a variety of arithmetic challenges. Key Features: Progress Monitoring: Easily graph and monitor learning progress with our intuitive view and export features, helping you stay informed of your learner’s development. Customizable Lessons: Adapt the app to suit your learner’s specific needs with various lesson modifications. Lesson Sharing: Send a copy of your lesson to other FirstWork users, such as colleagues. Focus Mode: During lessons, you can limit access to distracting apps on your device making it an environment more suitable for learning. Reward System: You can grant time on your learner’s favorite apps as a reward, after their time is up, they’ll be brought back to FirstWork for another lesson. It’s ideal for remote learning, learning at home, or learners who enjoy digital rewards. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or ABA professional, FirstWork makes learning easy and enjoyable. Terms of Use: https://firstworkapp.com/terms-of-service/ Privacy Policy: https://firstworkapp.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

VBMAPP4 screens
FirstWork4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: FirstWork at 100% against VBMAPP's 53%. FirstWork also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. VBMAPP sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and FirstWork sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FirstWork holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of VBMAPP's written reviews are positive against 100% of FirstWork's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VBMAPP ships an update monthly, FirstWork every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on June 4, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
VBMAPP versus FirstWork: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVBMAPPFirstWork
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (17 ratings)4.7 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings17 — better14
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size140 MB63 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperData Makes the Difference, LLCFirstWork LLC

Customer experience

VBMAPP

All ratings17 ratings
Positive70.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative29.4%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive52.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative47.1%

FirstWork

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

VBMAPP

One-time10
  • 1 VB-MAPP Assessment - 1 year$18.99
  • 1 Evaluación VB-MAPP - 1 año$18.99
  • 1 VB-MAPP Avaliação - 1 ano$18.99
Show 7 more
  • VB-Mapp Training - ABA 101$29.99
  • 3 VB-MAPP Assessments - 1 year$53.99
  • VB-Mapp Training Library$149.99
  • 10 VB-MAPP Assessments-1 year$169.99
  • 25 VB-MAPP Assessments-1 year$399.99
  • 25 VB-MAPP Évaluations - 1 an$399.99
  • 25 VB-MAPP Avaliações - 1 ano$399.99
1 purchases

FirstWork

Subscriptions1
  • Base$12.991 Month

Questions

Is VBMAPP free?
VBMAPP is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FirstWork free?
FirstWork is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, VBMAPP or FirstWork?
FirstWork is rated higher. VBMAPP averages 3.7 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while FirstWork averages 4.7 from 14 ratings.
Do VBMAPP or FirstWork have ads?
Neither VBMAPP nor FirstWork shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VBMAPP or FirstWork?
VBMAPP ships an update monthly, and FirstWork every 8 days. Most recently, VBMAPP was updated on June 4, 2026 and FirstWork on September 19, 2026.

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